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LOCAL HISTORY, 

BRIDGES OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, 
PEN NSYLVAN IA. 

BY J. D. HEMMNGER, ESQ. 

Paper Read Before the Hamilton Library Asso- 
ciation, Carlisle, Pa., February, 
17. 1905. 

Legislation providing for the erection of 
bridges was first enacted by the proprie- 
tary and governor by and with the advice 
and consent of the freemen of this 
province and territories, in general assem- 
bly met, November 27, 1700, as follows: 

"That within twelve months after the 
rising of this general assembly, bridges 
shall be built and maintained over al 
small creeks and rivulets where the re- 
spective county courts shall see cause, from 
the falls of Deleware to the utmost parts 
of Sussex county, on the Kings road, ten 
feet broad with rails on each side, which 
county court with the concurrence of the 
grand jury shall agree with and appoint 
some person or persons to build such 
bridges, who shall be paid for the same 
out of the respective county stocks." 

This act became law by lapse of time 
in accordance with the proprietaries char- 
ter having been considered by the Queen 
in council Feb. 7, 1705-6, and not acted 
upon. 

Aug. 14, 1725, a law was enacted to 
prevent the erection of "bridges over 
creeks or rivers of water" to the ob- 
struction of their navigation within this 
province, by any sloop, shallop, flat or 
other craft or float of logs, any custom or 
usage to the contrary thereof in anywise 
notwithstanding. 



S<?o~ 



r 1 57 



Aug.- 15, 1732, the assembly found it 
necessary by reason of the commissioners 
and assessors claiming the power of 
directing the building of bridges and 
agreeing with workmen for doing the 
same, without the concurrence of any 
court or grand jury, to re-enact and more 
fully define the law made in the twelfth 
year of the reign of the late King William 
the third (1700), which provides as fol- 
lows: 

"That the grand jury, commissioners 
and assessors, with the concurrence of the 
justices of the general quarter sessions of 
the peace, shall be the sole judges of the 
place where any bridge shall be built and 
maintained, and that the commissioners 
and assessors with the concurrence of the 
justices of the said respective counties at 
their respective ereneral quarter sessions 
of the peace shall agree with workmen 
for building, repairing and maintaining 
any bridge or bridges ordered to be built 
or repaired as aforesaid." 

The foregoing enactments were the only 
laws authorizing the erection of bridges 
for a period of nearly one hundred years. 

April 11, 1799, an act was passed en- 
joining the inhabitants of any county de- 
siring a bridge erected, to apply by peti 
tion, to the judges of the court of quarter 
sessions, who shall give said petition to 
the grand jury, and if the court and jury 
approve thereof, the court shall make an 
order on the commissioners, requiring 
them to cause the same to be erected as 
prayed for, or in any other manner 
directed by the said court and jury. 

April 6, 1802, the laws were further 
amended, providing, when application for a 
bridge was made by the supervisors or in- 
habitants, the court of quarter sessions 
shall order a view in the same manner as 



in the case of laying oat of roads (appoint- 
ing six viewers) and if on the report of 
said view, it appears to the court, grand 
jury and commissioners that such bridge 
is necessary and would be too expensive 
for the township or townships to erect, it 
shall be entered on record and the com- 
missioners shall proceed to erect said 
bridge by contract or otherwise, and such 
bridge when so erected shall be inspected 
by six persons appointed by the justice? 
of the court of quarter sessions, agreeable 
to whose report it shall be approved or 
disapproved by the court. 

The above cited acts and laws were re- 
enacted in 1836, which together with sub- 
sequent amendments, clearly defines the 
authority governing the erection and 
maintaining of highway bridges. 

Prior to the year 1812 the records are 
very incomplete as to erection and loca- 
tion of bridges. The road records and 
the minutes of the county commissioners 
refer to several bridges that demand con- 
sideration. 

First I copy in full a petition found in 
the files of the quarter sessions (not of 
record) for a bridge over the "Le Tart 
Spring." 

January sessions, 1779: 

To the worshipful the justices of the 
peace of the county of Cumberland in 
open court of general quarter sessions of 
the peace met at Carlisle the 19th day of 
January, A.D., 1779, the gentlemen of the 
grand inquest for the body of the same 
county, at the same session and to the 
commissioners and assessors of the same 
county for the time-presents. 

The petition of the subscribers inhabi- 
tants of the town of Carlisle and parts ad- 
jacent in the county aforesaid respect- 
fully showeth, 



4 

That whereas by several acts of the 
general assembly of Pennsylvania now in 
full force, it is provided and enacted that 
the grand juries, commissioners and 
assessors for the time being, with the 
concurrence of the justices of the general 
quarter sessions of the peace shall be the 
sole judges of the place where any bridge 
shall be built over any creek or rivulet, 
within the respective counties to which 
they belong as by the said acts may 
appear. 

And whereas by very many wagons and 
teams of late traveling between Carlisle 
and Washingtonburg over Le Tart Spring 
opposite to the east end of High street, 
(the earth on the east side of said spring 
being a kind of marie) the bank is so 
worn away tnat it is almost become im- 
practicable for any loaded wagon to pass 
through said spring with safety. 

And whereas it is the opinion of many, 
particularly the subscribers, that a bridge 
over the said spring at the place aforesaid 
is absolutely necessary, as well for the 
greater ease and convenience of strangers, 
as the inhabitants who may have occa- 
sion to travel that road. 

The request of the petitioners is, that 
the justices, the grand jury men, and the 
board of commissioners and assessors, 
will be pleased to walk as far as Le Tart 
Spring at the east end of High street, and 
view the place where the bridge is de- 
sired to be built, and if on their own view 
it shall appear to them (as it does to the 
subscribers) that it is absolutely neces- 
sary to erect a bridge there, that they 
will be pleased to enter their opinion of 
record, and order a bridge to be built 
there agreeable to the direction of the 
acts of the General Assembly of Pennsyl- 
vania in such cases made and provided. 



And your petitioners will ever pray. 
January 16, 1779. 

There are 79 signatures attached to this 
petition among which are found the names 
of Blair, Blaine, Chambers, Calhoon, 
Forbes, Furgeson, Holmes, Irvine, Logh- 
ridge, Logue, McCoskry, McMurray, Post- 
lethwaite, Pollock, Reynolds, Steel, Sloan, 
Vanlear, etc. 

Approved by the grand jury. 

Disallowed by the court. 

Jan. 21, 1779. 

John Agnew, clerk. 

In a petition presented to the October 
sessions 1780 for a pub Lie road from Car- 
lisle to Harris Ferry, the termini is "from 
Carlisle or the bridge on Le Tart Spring," 
indicating that in some way, most likely 
at the expense of the inhabitants, a bridge 
was erected to the great advantage and 
"safety of the many wagons and teams 
traveling between Carlisle and Washing 
tonburg." 

To August sessions, 1792, the following 
report was filed. "We the grand jury of 
the county of Cumberland beg leave to re- 
port to the president and associate judges 
our sensibility of the manifold advantages 
resulting from the erection and main- 
tenance of public bridges over the creeks 
and rivulets within this county. 

That we are particularly desirous to at- 
tract the attention of the court to the de- 
cayed and ruined state of the mean one 
over that part of Le Tort Spring which the 
public road passes that leads from High 
street in Carlisle, to Yorktown and Sundry 
ferries on the Susquehanna,and to express 
our sentiments of the immediate necessity 
of erecting a new strong and lasting 
bridge over the same to be built of stone 
and lime. 

We therefore request the concurrence of 



the justices of the general quarter sessions 
and of the commissioners of the county, in 
opinion with us of the propriety of this 
application, and that all necessary meas- 
ures be pursued touching the premises. 
Signed — Ephriam Blaine, foreman; Jacob 
Crever, Edward West, Samuel Postleth- 
waite, county commissioners. 

Non concured in by the court. 

Again, in January, 1795, the grand in- 
quest and the county commissioners join- 
ed in a petition setting forth that ''a 
bridge to be erected over Le Tort Spring 
at the east end of High or Market street 
in the borough of Carlisle would be of 
great public utility and therefore ought to 
be erected at the public expense." 

Thispetition received the approval of five 
of the justices of the court, whereupon, Jan. 
6, 1795, the county commissioners enter- 
ed into an agreement with John Creigh, 
Charles McClure, Robert Miller, Jr., and 
John Arthur to build "a two arch stone 
bridge with curtain walls extending on 
each side of the arches not less than forty 
feet," to be finished in nine months, 
when they were to be paid out of the 
treasury of the county two hundred dol- 
lars. Two payments were made to the 
aforesaid contractors, one of £40 and the 
other one hundred and thirty one dollars 
and twenty eight cents, an excess of 
$37.94% over and above the price stipu- 
lated in the agreement. 

It may be of interest to note, that upon 
examination of the accounts kept in the 
commissioner's or county treasurer's 
office, the above credit entry, written dol- 
lars and cents, is the first time that an 
amount of money is expressed other than 
pounds, shillings and pence. 
The pound value was $2.66%. 
We now leave the limpid spring waters 



that bear the name of a noted Indian 
trader who onee resided near the source 
of this bonny brook, and the bridge that 
appears by the records, .or rather by the 
absence of more definite testimony to the 
contrary, to have been the first bridge 
erected in Cumberland county, to the more 
turbulent waters of the Conodoguinet 
creek. 

This stream has its source in the adjoin- 
ing county of FrankJin, and flows east- 
ward, traversing by its winding course 
nearly twice the greater length of our fair 
county, until it reaches the broad Susque- 
hanna at West Fairview. In the year 
1791, at the April quarter sessions, a peti- 
tion was presented, asking for a public 
road from Thomas Barnes Sulphur Spring 
in McFarlain's (now Doubling) Gap via 
Samuel McCormick's mill, (now Fry's 
mill), thence to John Purdy's house, (a 
farm residence still standing), to Captain 
Butler's gate (a point about two hundred 
yards west of the village of Bloserville), 
the same Captain Butler, who later was 
more fully known as Colonel Thomas But- 
ler, one of the five brothers of revolution- 
ary fame. The next point mentioned in 
this petition is "to Alexander Leckey's 
nouse" (one mile east of Blosersville,) and 
thence to a bridge about to be erected 
over the Conodoguinet creek, at or near 
John McDonald's, and from thence to 
Carlisle. Tins road was laid out to the 
residence of Alexander Leckey where an 
old road was intersected which the view 
ers "believe to be a good road and think 
it unnecessary to lay out another." In 
1792 viewers report laying out a road from 
Alexander Leckey's to the McDonald 
bridge on the Conodoguinet creek. This 
bridge is also referred to in a petition to 
the court from Major Thomas Butler. 



8 

In comity treasurer's book Number 2, 
Page 48 for the year 1792 this entry ap- 
pears ''Order No. 249. By order in favor 
of John McDonald and Conrad Jumper, 
trustees, for building a bridge over Cono- 
doguinet creek at Gen. Thompson's place, 
£75. 

On a draft annexed to a report of road 
viewers, filed to April term, 1803, the lo- 
cation of the McDonald bridge is shown, 
and the draftsman clearly represents the 
superstructure to be wood, covered with a 
roof. 

April term, 1822, a petition was filed 
setting forth "that a bridge is necessary 
where the road leading from Carlisle to 
Jumper's mill, in Frankford township, 
crosses the Conodoguinet creek, at a place 
called Baker's ford, near where Baker's 
bridge formerly stood." Here a bridge 
was built, 1825, that has ever since been 
known as the Hays bridge. 

Other references might be cited were it 
necessary to establish the fact of the erec- 
tion of this bridge as early as the year 
1792, that it was first known as the 
McDonald bridge, af'General Thompson's 
place," and later as the Baker bridge. 
John McDonald was the owner of the 
lands on the north side of the creek, and 
Philip Baker the lando on the south side, 
formerly the General William Thompson 
place. The £75 or $200 paid out of the 
county fund can only represent a very 
small portion of the cost, the greater part 
of which must have been provided through 
private contributions. From all the re- 
search thus far made, the conclusion is, 
that at John McDonald's was located the 
first highway bridge erected over the 
Conodoguinet creek, on tbe main road, 
traveled by the inhabitants of the north 
side of the valley to the county seat and 
beyond. 



9 

Oar attention is next directed toward 
the Yellow Breeches creek, a stream hav- 
ing its source in the township of Newton, 
fed by springs and mountain brooklets, 
thence flowing eastward to a point within 
one mile of the western boundary of Upper 
Allen township, where it becomes the 
division line between York and Cumber- 
land counties to its mouth at the Susque- 
hanna river. 

In a road paper filed to January term 
1792, mention is made of "a bridge on the 
Yellow Breeches creek where the road to 
Simpson's Feiry crosses said creek." 
Again in 1793, road viewers report having 
laid out a road from Robert Whitehill's 
(now Whitehill station on the C. V. R. R.) 
to the bridge over Fellow Breeches creek. 

September 18, 1813, the commissioners 
of Cumberland and York counties con- 
tracted with Patrick Dawson and John 
Kernan, Jr., to build a stone bridge over 
the Yellow Breeches creek, near Halde- 
man's forge, "about half way between the 
old wooden bridge near said forge and the 
mouth of the creek." This bridge was 
completed January 24, 1815, at a cost of 
$3400. 

Seventy- four years thereafter this same 
bridge was destroyed by high water, at 
the time of the Johnstown flood, but not 
until February 21, 1891, was the iron 
bridge now spanning the creek at this 
point completed. It cost $6000. 

It appears then that the old wooden 
bridge of 1792 at New Cumberland on the 
great road via Simpson Ferry to Lancas- 
ter, of which the records fail to tell us, 
when or how it got there, must have been 
the first bridge erected over the Yellow 
Breeches creek. 

BKIDGE AT NEWVILLE. 

February 1, 1797, Jeremiah McKibben, 



10 

John Dunbar and John Roberts, trustees, 
were given an order by the county com- 
missioners for 37 pounds, 10 shilling to 
assist in building a stone bridge over the 
Big Spring at the town of Newville. 

BRIDGE AT SHIPPENSBURG 

January 12, 1816, commissioners met at 
Shippensburg for the purpose of receiving 
proposals for building a stone arch bridge 
over the Branch Spring in said town, and 
on the day following was by public ven- 
due struck down to Patrick Dawson, of 
Carlisle, for $894 00, he to build the same 
at his own cost and charges and of the 
best material for the above sum, on or be- 
fore the first of November. The bridge 
was completed and inspected November 
19, 1816. 

FLEMING BRIDGE. 

A bridge over the Conodoguinet creek 
at Fleming's ford on the road from Car- 
lisle to Sterrett's Gap, was asked for as 
early as 1805, when viewers were appoint- 
ed, but the records fail to give their re- 
port, or any further proceedings, until 
April Term, 1812, when the inhabitants of 
North Middleton township, file, their peti- 
tion setting forth "that said creek is a 
water of considerable depth and rapidity, 
that it may properly be termed a river." 

August 6, 1812, the viewers report they 
believe a bridge necessary, locate a site, 
and recommend it to be built of stone. 
The day following it was approved by the 
grand jury, the court, and concurred in by 
the county commissioners. 

December 17, 1812, a contract was 
entered into with Patrick Dawson and 
Thomas Duncan for the building of a 
stone bridge at Fleming's ford for the 
sum of $5410.00 

November, 1815, the commissioners 



11 

represented to the court that a bridge 
had lately been erected by them at Flem- 
ing's ford, and iequest the appointment 
of proper persons to inspect the same. 
We fail to find any report of inspectors at 
this time. 

January term, 1817, Patrick Dawson, 
the contractor, m his petition to the court 
says, he has completed the bridge at Flem- 
ing's ford, and prays the court to appoint 
six fit persons to inspect said bridge. 

Whereupon the court did appoint view- 
ers and ordered them to report, whether 
the said bridge has been built agreeable 
to the contract made April 12, 1817. A 
report was made August 9, 1817, but "by 
consent was set aside on account of irreg- 
ularities" and other viewers appointed, 
who reported November 8, 1817, which re- 
port was likewise set aside, for the reason 
that only five of the inspectors signed the 
report. 

Subsequently other persons were ap- 
pointed and instructed to view and report 
whether said bridge has been built agree- 
able to the terms of a contract concluded 
January 10, 1818. This report was made 
in due time, but on account of the eon- 
tract not being yet fully completed, was 
referred back to them, to re-inspect as 
soon as notice was given of its completion. 

The records failed to enlighten us, 
whether the inspectors ever reported this 
bridge completed in accordance with the 
three different contracts made for the 
erection of the same. 

From entries made in the commission- 
ers day book,it appears that Patrick Daw- 
son was paid at various times on account 
of the bridge at Fleming's ford, from 
December 22, 1814, to August 9, 1816, 
$6400, an excess of $990 above the price 
stipulated in the first contract, and that a 



12 

final settlement was reached April 7,1819, 
when the farther sum of $100 was paid 
him, "in full for bnilding the bridge over 
the Conodoguinet creek at Fleming's 
ford," over six years from the date of the 
first contract. 

In 1826, within eight years from the com- 
pletion of the stone bridge a petition was 
presented to the court, representing 
"that by reason of late freshets the old 
stone bridge at Fleming's bas become so 
much damaged that it is believed impract- 
able to repair" and ask for a new bridge, 
which was duly granted. 

March 15, 1827, a contract was made 
with Jacob Bishop, to build a wooden 
bridge, 1 span, 120 feet between abutments, 
20 feet wide and 16 feet above low water, 
at a cost of $1800 

November 21, 1827, this bridge was in- 
spected and found completed in accord- 
ance with the contract, and is now, 77 
years since, in a good and serviceable 
condition. 

THE OLD "CAMEL BACK" BRIDGE. 

We believe some note should be made of 
this old historic land mark on the Susque- 
hanna, one end of which was fastened to 
our shore, and over which many of our 
people were constant travelers. 

For a short sketch of this noted bridge 
I copy from an artiele appearing in the 
Harrisburg papers, March, 1902. 

"On the third day of April, 1809, an act 
authorizing the erection of this bridge was 
passed, fixing the capital at $400,000, in 
20,000 shares, at $20 a share. The first 
stone was placed in position, December 2, 
1812, to be completed in three years. The 
first toll received by the company was on 
October 16, 1815, but on account of hin- 
drances, the bridge and toll houses were 



13 

not completed until 1817 and cost $192,- 
000, $90,000 of which was appropriated 
by the state. It is of interest to read the 
rates of toll then allowed. A two wheeled 
vehicle, with a horse, was charged thirty 
cents; a single horse and rider, 18% cents; 
a horse or mule, without rider, 12^ cents ; 
foot passengers, 63^ cents. 

The bridge was built in two distinct 
parts, the first part run from Front street 
opposite Market street, in Harrisburg, to 
Forster's Island. The second portion from 
the island across to the Cumberland shore. 
Total length, two-thirds of a mile ; width, 
40 feet; elevation, 50 feet. The part 
reaching from Harrisburg to the island was 
swept away, March 15, 1846, and for a 
time the passage to the island was made 
by means of a ferry rope. This part of 
the bridge was rebuilt in 1847. In 1866 
it was burned, and rebuilt in 1867, and 
again in March, 1902, three piers were car- 
ried away by the ice floods. 

The latter part, from the island to the 
Cumberland shore, withstood the floods of 
85 years, as Theodore Burr, the architect, 
built it, and as Dickens drove through it 
"once upon a time," description of which 
appears in his "American Notes." In 
1903 what remained of this famous old 
"Camel Back" bridge, with its many 
humps was removed, and a modern steel 
structure erected on the same site. 

BRIDGE OVER COCOLAMUS CREEK. 

As early as 1803, the inhabitants of 
Juniata and Greenwood townships, peti- 
tioned for a bridge over this creek, near 
its junction with the Juniata river. In 
1816, a site was located at Sherman's ford, 
"near the place commonly called the 
Indian Path" and a two arch stone bridge 
erected, costing $2865. 



14 

The bridge was completed January 7, 
1817, but there being no money in the 
treasury, the contractor was obliged to 
wait more than seven months for the last 
installment of the contract price. 

Three years later the youngest child of 
mother Cumberland was born, who, along 
with other valuable grants inherited this 
stone bridge. 

JACOB'S BRIDGE. 

The inhabitants of Mifflin and Newton 
townships petitioned the court at January 
sessions, 1819, for a bridge over the Uono- 
doguinet creek, where the state road from 
Newville to Doubling Gap crosses same. 
The viewers reported favorable, but the 
grand jury "for lack of funds," withheld 
their approval until August term 1823, or 
"as soon thereafter as the funds will 
admit." 

March 30, 1824, a contract was made 
with Wm Le Baron, of Dauphin county, 
he agreeing to set up and finish a wooden 
bridge 140 feet between abutments, and 
warrant the standing aud permancy of the 
same for seven years, and when complet- 
ed he was to be paid $3320. August 25, 
1824, it was inspected, and opened for pub- 
lic use, and today, after more than four 
score years of constant use, stands firm 
and secure. The heavy timbers are hew- 
ed white pine, and the workmanship the 
best. This bridge is now the oldest of its 
kind in the county. In those days of yore, 
the funds of the county were often 
inadequate to meet the demands for new 
bridges, and sometimes the authorities 
were persuaded to undeitake building, 
only when the inhabitants had secured a 
generous subscription, and filed same with 
the county commissioners. In some eases 
bonds Were required, conditioned for faith- 
ful payment of the amount subscribed. 



15 

The subscription list for this bridge eon- 
tains 265 names, from one dollar up to 
forty dollars, and aggregating $1755.00, 
over one half of the cost. In the year 
1879,on account of a change in the course 
of the creek, the waters then passing 
around the south end of the old bridge, it 
became necessary to erect a causeway of 
120 feet, and an additional bridge of 100 
feet, at a cost of $2144.00, and again, in 
1903, 212 feet of causeway was added, to 
confine the overflow waters within the 
limits of the two bridges. 

QUIGLEY BRIDGE. 

This bridge is located, where the state 
road from Carlisle to Fort Littleton crosses 
the Conodoguinet creek, near the house of 
Robert Quigley, in Hopewell township. At 
April quarter sessions, 1815, a bridge was 
asked for at this place. About fifteen 
months later, the commissioners were 
ready to submit plans, and conclude a con- 
tract as by the following minute appears. 

August 10, 1816, "The commissioners 
agree to sell the bridge which is to be 
erected at Quigley' s, on Friday, the 27th 
day of Sept., 1816. They order an ad- 
vertisement to be published for the afore- 
said purpose. The conditions of sale shall 
be as follows: The lowest and best bidder 
to be the undertaker of a stone bridge, to 
be built according to plans submitted. 
September 27, 1816. I, William Biggs, 
agree to build said bridge at the price 
knocked down, to wit, the sum of $5500. 
Signed, William Biggs. 

An agreement was then concluded with 
Biggs, to .build a four arch stone bridge 
350 feet long. Failing to put up the 
security required,the contract was annull- 
ed. 

August 28, 1818, James Duffey agrees to 



16 

build a five arch stone bridge, 350 feet 
long, for $7250. The work was begun, and 
in November Duffey was paid $1000, on 
account. No further mention is made of 
the project until Jane 20, 1820, when 
Duffey was notified "that if he any longer 
failed to comply with the contract made, 
the commissioners shall and will consider 
the said contract abandoned. 

September 26, 1822, a third contract 
was concluded, with Jacob Stouffar "to 
erect two wooden bridges at Quigley's, 
one over the main part of the creek to an 
island, and the other from said island 
across a narrow channel to the Quigley 
side of the creek," for which he was to re- 
ceive $5350. Those two bridges were 
completed September 27, 1824. The 
smaller one was rebuilt in 1834 and again 
in 1860. The large bridge was destroyed 
by floods in 1856 : and rebuilt the same 
year, by John Finley, at a cost of $1844. 

FISHER BRIDGE. 

Is located on the Conodoguinet creek at 
Thomas Fisher's mill, in East Pennsboro, 
(now Silver Spring township), and since 
known as the Bueher-Houston bridge, a 
wooden structure of three spans, built by 
Jacob Bishop,under a contract dated April 
16, 1824, for which when completed, lie 
was to have $5350. 

Of this amount only $4315,00 was paid 
him out of the county fund, for the bal- 
ance due him $1035, we may safely 
assume he was paid out of subscriptions, 
made by the residents of the community, 
the original copy of which is on file in 
the commissioners office. This bridge was 
completed, and opened to the public 
November 24, 1824, and is therefore the 
second oldest bridge now standing in 
Cumberland county. 



17 
RUPP BRIDGE. 

September 7, 1824, Jonas Eupp agreed 
to build a wooden bridge over the Conodo- 
guinet creek, near Eupp's mill, in East 
Pennsboro, (now Hampden township), for 
which the commissioners agreed to pay 
him $1500. The bridge was completed 
December 17, 1824, and Mr. Eupp was 
paid the price agreed upon. 

At the January, April and August terms 
of the quarter sessions, 1825, Mr. Eupp 
presented his petition, representing that 
the building of said bridge, cost him 
$4627.58, that he held a subscription of 
the inhabitants of said township, to the 
amount of $2000, upon which he only real- 
ized $1800, and thereby made himself 
liable in the sum of $1327.58 for which 
deficiency he asked an appropriation. 
Each of the said grand juries refused to 
recommend any further appropriations. 
This bridge was destroyed by the ice 
floods in February, 1884, and rebuilt the 
same year at a cost to the connty of $3019. 
The bridges thus far built cover a period 
over thirty years, and have been consider- 
ed more in detail, than it will be possible 
to give to those erected since. We can 
only briefly refer to others, and conclude 
with a summary of all. 

The Baker or Hays bridge, is a wooden 
structure, located on or near the site of the 
McDonald bridge, on the Conodoguinet 
creek, four miles west of Carlisle, was 
built by John and Joseph Hays at a cost 
of $1500. This amount was no doubt 
supplemented by subscription. The 
bridge was completed December 14, 1825, 
and remains standing today. 

The Brougher bridge is a joint bridge 
built over the Yellow Breeches creek, 
where the state road from Harrisburg to 
Gettysburg crosses same, in Upper Allen 
township. 



18 

The building of this bridge was author- 
ized by an act of assembly, appropriating 
$2000, approved April 14, 1827. Material, 
wood. It was opened to the public Janu- 
ary 11, 1828, at a cost of $1886 25 and re- 
mains today as built by Jacob Bishop. 

WEST FAIR VIEW BRIDGE. 

March 24, 1817, an act of assembly was 
passed, authorizing John Woomley, and 
Abraham Neidich to erect and maintain a 
bridge across the Couodoguinet at its 
mouth. Nothing further fan be learned 
of this project. July 7, 1828, the county 
commissioners contracted with John Bup- 
ley, to erect a two span wooden bridge 
over the said creek at its mouth, for the 
sum of $3500, to be paid him as follows, 
$2000 appropriated by the state, $1000 by 
the county and the remainder by sub- 
scription from the citizens. The bridge 
was completed January 15, 1829. 

In the year 1858, $2489,95 was expend- 
ed for repairs on this bridge. No cause 
is given for this extraordinary amount ex- 
pended. 

This bridge was swept from its founda- 
tions June 1, 1889, rebuilt and opened for 
travel Nov. 9, 1889, costing $3250. In 
1896, with the advent of electric railroad 
building, this bridge was considered in- 
sufficient for carrying trolley cars. After 
some contention, the Harrisburg and Me- 
chanic8burg Electric Kaiiway company 
agreed to remove the wooden bridge and 
erect in its stead, an iron structure of 
sufficient capacity to accommodate the 
public and electric road, the county con- 
tributing the old bridge and one thousand 
dollars in cash. The new bridge is the 
property of the county. The electric rail- 
way company to have the right of con- 
tinued use so long as they shall keep the 
same in good repair. 



19 

DILLER BRIDGE. 

This bridge is located on the Conodoqui- 
net creek, about three and a half miles 
east from Newville. Material, wood, and 
was built by John Diller, Alex Ker and 
Peter Stoneberger, in the year 1829, and 
cost $1500. 

In the year 1832 a wooden bridge was 
built over the Big Spring, at Newville, 
where the state road to Gettysburg crosses 
same. It was completed January 17, 
1833, at a cost of $1633. In 1880 the 
bridge was condemned and replaced with 
a stone structure, costing $777. 

ALEXANDER BRIDGE. 

A petition was filed to the March ses- 
sions, 1806, for a bridge at Blaine's Mill, 
where the road to Harper's Gap crosses 
the Conodoguinet creek, and again in 
1813, neither of which received favorable 
consideration. In 1831 and 1832 another 
effort was made for a bridge at "Cave 
Mill," where the road from Carlisle to 
Long' 8 Gap crosses the same, in North 
Middleton township. This last petition re- 
ceived favorable consideration, and on 
April 18, 1833, the commissioners con- 
tracted with Samuel Alexander, Esq., to 
erect a wooden bridge, 180 feet long, for 
which, when completed, August 11, 1834, 
he was paid by the county, $1300. An 
amount so unreasonably small, that we 
concluded the greater part of the cost was 
met by subscription. 

Forty-four years thereafter, 1878, the 
bridge was condemned, and replaced with 
another wooden structure, 214 feet in 
length, costing $2695, which remains at 
this time. 

MIDDLESEX ERIDGE. 

The first bridge over the Conodoquinet 
creek, at Middlesex, was a wooden struc- 
ture 170 feet long,which William LeBaron 



20 

agreed to build for $3200. But, Abram 
Lamberton, Roy Lamberton, John Won- 
derlich, Robert Griffen and Edward 
McBride offered to build said bridge for 
same price, and in addition, they would 
execute a bond in the sum of $2000, obli- 
gating themselves to raise subscriptions 
to the amount of $1000, and pay same over 
to the County Treasurer. August 15, 
1834, five months after the contract was 
concluded, the $1000 subscription was 
paid into the county treasury. 

The said contractors fartner agreed to 
pay one years interest on a sum not ex- 
ceeding $1500, "an amount the commis- 
sioners may have to borrow for the build- 
ing of the Middlesex bridge." This pledge 
was faithfully kept, although it took over 
seven years until the fifth and last pay- 
ment was made. 

The bridge was completed August II, 
1834. In the year 1885, $945 was expend- 
ed for repairs. Two years later the bridge 
was condemned, and the following year, 
1896, a new iron structure was erected on 
the same site, costing $5825. 

CATS CABIN, OE NEWBURG BRIDGE. 

Is the upper bridge on the Conodoguinet 
creek, on the road from Snippensburg to 
Newburg, in Hopewell township; built of 
wood, 1834, and cost $2200. 

LISBURN BRIDGE. 

A joint bridge, situated on the Yellow 
Breeches creek, at the village of Lisburn, 
in Lower Allen township. Material, 
wood ; built 1838 and cost $2000. 

WAGGONER BRIDGE 

Is located where the Waggoner Gap 
road crosses the Conodoguinet creek, in 
INorth Middleton township, built of wood, 
1839, cost $3404. Destroyed by the floods 
of June, 1889. Rebuilt of wood the same 
year, costing $2825. 



21 

EBERLY BRYSON BRIDGE. 

Is located on the Conodoguinet creek, 
at Eberly's ford, in Hampden township. 
Wooden two-span structure, built 1841, 
and cost $3710. 

HOOVER- BERNHEISEL BRIDGE. 

Is located near Hoover's mill, over the 
Conodoguinet oieek, in Middlesex town- 
ship. A wooden bridge built 1843, costing 
$3500. Subscriptions amounting to $1500 
were paid into the county treasury. 

In 1869 without assigning any cause the 
bridge was rebuilt of wood at a cost of 
$2885. 

BRANDT BRIDGE. 

Situated on the Yellow Breeches creek 
where the road from Carlisle to "Little 
York" crosses said creek in Monroe town- 
ship, built 1840, material, wood, cost 
$1450. 

BROOK' s bridge. 

A joint bridge on the Yellow Breeches 
creek, near Brook's mill, in Lower Allen 
township, built 1850. Material, wood. 
Cost $2404. 

GREIDER BRIDGE. 

Located on the Conodoguinet creek one 
and half miles west of Plainfield, in West 
Pennsboro and Prankford townships. A 
wooden structure built 1851, cost $3118. 

ECKERT BRIDGE. 

Located on the Conodoguinet creek, 
three miles west of Newville in Newton 
and Mifflin townships. Material wood, 
built 1852, costing $2300. In 1888 an ad- 
ditional bridge was erected on the Newton 
township side of the creek. This was de- 
stroyed and rebuilt in 1889, costing $1000. 
In 1903, on account of the creek changing 
its course it became necessary to provide 
additional bridging to accommodate the 
public. The small open bridge being 



22 

worn out, a large iron structure was 
erected costing $10,400. 

THOMPSON BRIDGE. 

Is located on the Conodoguinet creek in 
Newton and Mifflin townships. The 
erection of this bridge was authorized by 
an act of assembly approved April 7, 1852, 
and completed January 17, 1853. Mater- 
ial wood and cost $2375. 

EGE'S BRIDGE. 

Situated on the Yellow Breeches creek 
near the village of Boiling Springs in 
South Middleton township, built 1854. 
Material stone, cost $2997. 
orr's bridge. 

Situated on the Conodoguinet creek at 
James Orr's, in Hampden township. 
Material wood. Erected 1855, costing 
$4973. 

ALTER BRIDGE. 

Located near Alter' s mill on the Cono- 
doguinet ereek in West Pennsboro and 
Frankford townships. Material wood. 
Built 1855, cost $2390. 

GRAHAM-BOWMAN BRIDGE. 

Located on the Conodoguinet creek on 
the road from Newville to Bloserville. in 
West Pennsboro and Frankford townships. 
Material wood. Built 1857, costing $3950. 

BRECHBILL BRIDGE. 

Situated on the Yellow Breeches creek 
where the Petersburg road crosses same 
in South Middleton township. Material 
wood, built 1857, cost $534. Rebuilt 1903. 
Material iron, cost $4500. 

BRYSON BRIDGE. 

A joint bridge on the Yellow Breeches 
creek at Cocklm's ford in Upper Allen 
township. Built 1857. Material stone, 
cost $2000. 



23 
WONDERLICH-BARNITZ BRIDGE. 

Situated on the Yellow Breeches creek 
near Barnitz mill in Dickinson township. 
Material wood. Built 1858. Cost $375. 

COOVER BRIDGE. 

Joint bridge, situated on the Yellow 
Breeches creek on the road from Mechan- 
icsburg to York, in Upper Allen township. 
Built 1859. Material wood. Cost $1519. 

BOYER BRIDGE. 

A joint bridge on the Yellow Breeches 
creek near Boyer's mill, in Lower Allen 
township. Built 1859. Material stone. 
Cost $1980. 

SAMPLE BRIDGE. 

Located near ford at John C. Sample's 
on the Conodoguinet creek in Silver Spring 
township. Material wood. Built 1860. 
Cost $2648. 

BRIDGE. 

On Middle Spring where road from New- 
ville to Orrstown crosses same in South- 
ampton township. Built jointly with 
Franklin county 1866. Material wood. 
Cost $1030. 

WILLIAM'S BRIDGE. 

A joint bridge on the Yellow Breeches 
creek, where the road from Mechanics- 
burg to Dillsbure crosses same in Monroe 
township. Built 1866. Material wood. 
Cost $2900. 

MILLTOWN BRIDGE. 

Situated on the Yellow Breeches creek 
in Upper Allen township. A joint bridge 
built 1867. Material wood. Cost $3518. 

GIVLER BRIDGE. 

Situated on the Yellow Breeches creek 
at Givler's mill in Monroe township. Built 
1867. Material iron. Cost $3765. 

LANTZ BRIDGE. 

A joint bridge on the Yellow Breeches 



24 

creek at Lantz's fording in Upper Allen 
township. Built 1867. Material wood. 
Cost $2792. 

WATTS BRIDGE. 

Located on the Conodoguinet creek two 
miles west of Carlisle in North Middleton 
township. Material iron. Built 1868. 
Cost $4893. Destroyed by ice flood Feb- 
ruary 10, 1881. Rebuilt of wood same 
year costing $2548. Washed away by the 
flood of May 30, 1889. Rebuilt latter part 
of same year. Material wood. Cost 
$2475. 

GLOVER- SOUDER BRIDGE. 

Located on the Conodoguinet creek at 
Glover's mill in Silver Spring township. 
Built 1868. Material iron. Cost $8225.00. 
Destroyed Feb. 8, 1884, by ice floods. 
Rebuilt 1884. Material wood. Cost 
$3325. 

HECK-OYSTER BRIDGE. 

Located on the Conodoguinet creek at 
John Heck's mill in East Pennsboro town- 
ship. Built 1868. Material iron. Cost 
$8507. Subscription $1050. 1872, $3748, 
paid for repairs, and in 1878, $389. De- 
stroyed by ice floods Feb. 12, 1881. A 
new bridge of wood was built same year 
costing $5410. Total amount expended 
for bridging at this place within thirteen 
years $18,054. 

BRIDGE ON ROXBURY ROAD. 

A joint bridge with Franklin county on 
the Middle Spring where the road from 
Shippensburg to Roxbury crosses same in 
Southampton township. Built 1869. 
Material iron. Cost $953. 

MYERS- PIPHER BRIDGE. 

On the Conodoguinet creek on the road 
from Oakville to Three Square Hollow in 
Newton and Mifflin townships. Material 
iron. Built 1870. Cost $7561. Destroy- 



25 

ed by ice floods Feb. 1881. Rebuilt same 
year of wood, costing $1868. 

HEPBERN-BERGNER BRIDGE. 

On the Conodoguinet creek one mile 
north of Plainfield in West Pennsboro 
and Frankford townships. Built 1870. 
Material iron. Cost $7345. In 1885 spent 
for repairs $1068. Destroyed by floods of 
May, 1889. k The same y6ar a new wooden 
structnre was built costing $2380. When 
completed the grade to the northern ap- 
approacb was considered too great. 
Necessitating a change of road to higher 
ground and the construction of a causway 
and short span bridge at a cost of $600, 
one half of which was borne by Frankfoid 
township. Ever since, the highest waters 
have not been known to overflow its 
approach, a distinction that cannot be 
claimed for any other highway bridge in 
the county. 

BRIDGE SOUTH OP NKWVILLE. 

On the Big Spring, on the turnpike road 
from Newville to Stoughstown. Built 
1872. Material stone. Cost $1300. 

ANDERSON'S BRIDGE. 

On the Yellow Breeches creek at Ander- 
son's ford near Lisburn, in Upper Allen 
township. A joint bridge built 1873. 
Material wood. Cost $3699. 

FORGE BRIDGE. 

A joint bridge on the Yellow Breeches 
creek, where the road from Lisburn to 
New Cumberland crosses same in Lower 
Allen township. Built 1877. Material 
wood. Cost $2269. We are informed 
from a source believed to be reliable, al- 
though not coroberated by the records, that 
during the erection of the above bridge 
the scaffolding, with timbers of the unfin- 
ished bridge, were at two different times 



26 

swept down the creek causing serious loss 
to Mr. Stouffer, the contractor. A third 
effort proved successful. About nine 
years later this bridge was destroyed by 
fire, believed to have been the work of an 
incendiary. An iron bridge was erected 
in 1887, as shown by the inspectors report. 

RAMP BRIDGE. 

Located on the Conodoguinet creek, 
where the road from Oakville to Newburg 
crosses the same in Newton and Hopewell 
townships. Built 1882. Material wood. 
Cost $2173. 

STUDIBAKER OR ETTER & 8HANKLIN BRIDGE. 

A joint bridge on the Yellow Breeches 
creek at Studibaker's ford in Lower Allen 
township. Built 1883. Material wood. 
Cost $2493. Destroyed by the floods of 
May 1889. Rebuilt same year. Material 
iron. Cost $3524 

LEIDIGH BRIDGE. 

Located on Yellow Breeches creek near 
Leidig's mill in Monroe township. Built 
1885. Material iron. Cost $1484. 

ROUSH BRIDGE. 

On the Yellow Breeches creek in Dick 
inson township. Built 1886. Material 
wood. Cost $459.00. 

PULLING MILL BRIDGE. 

A joint bridge on the Yellow Breeches 
creek at Lisburn Fulling mill ford in 
Lower Allen township. Built 1887. 
Material iron. 

HUNTSDALE BRIDGE. 

On bellow Breeches creek where road 
from Huntsdale to Stone Tavern crosses 
said creek in Penn township. Built 1887. 
Material wood. Cost $459. 

BRIDGE. 

On Middle Spring, where road from Mid- 



27 

die Spring village to Mowersville crosses 
same, where an old bridge formerly stood. 
Built jointly with Franklin county 1888, 
Material wood. Cost $350. 

ERB BRIDGE. 

Located on Conodoguinet creek atErb's 
ford in Hampden township. Built 1893. 
Material wood. Cost $5415. A subscrip- 
tion of $1500 had been pledged toward 
the erection of this bridge. Later a note 
for same was given, but only $750 paid. 

WOLF BRIDGE. 

Is located on the Conodoguinet creek at 
John Wolf's ford. Built 1894. Material 
iron. Cost $6449. 

GERMEYER BRIDGE. 

Located on the Conodoguinet creek at 
Germeyer's mill, in West Pennsboro and 
Prankford townships. Material iron. 
Cost $10,355. 

TANGER BRIDGE. 

On the Yellow Breeches creek, where 
the road from Mt. Holly Springs to Boiling 
Springs crosses same in South Middleton 
township. Built 1897. Material iron. 
Cost $4789. 

BISHOP BRIDGE. 

On the Yellow Breeches creek on the 
road from Bowmansdale to York, in Upper 
Allen township. Built jointly with York 
county, 1898. Material iron. Cost $3689. 

NEWVILLE RRIDGE. 

The first bridge built over the Big 
Spring at Newville, was erected 1797, a3 
already noted. In 1829 in a petition to 
court it was represented as having fallen 
into decay and dangerous to travelers. 
Later the borough erected a new one which 
was washed away by the floods of 1889. 
A wooden bridge was then built that 
served the public until 1896, when a new 



28 

iron bridge was built, at a cost of $800, 
$100 paid by the township of West Penns- 
boro,$200 by the borough of Newville, and 
by the county. 



CRAIGHEAD BRIDGE. 

On the Yellow Breeches creek near 
Craighead station in South Middleton 
township. Built 1899. Material iron. 
Cost $4100. 

GILBERT BRIDGE. 

A joint bridge on the Yellow Breeches 
creek, near Dare's clover mill in Upper 
Allen township. Built 1900. Material iron. 
Cost $4664. 

WHORLEY BRIDGE. 

On the Yellow Breeches creelj, where 
the state road from Newville crosses same 
in Penn township. Built 1903. Material 
wood. Cost $689. 

WIDDER BRIDGE 

On the Yellow Breeches creek, where 
the road from Mooredale crosses same in 
Dickinson township. Built 1903. Mater- 
ial wood. Cost $664. 

SUMMARY. 

The first bridge erected in the county 
was over the Letort Spring on East Main 
street, Carlisle, about the year 1780, which 
was replaced with a atone bridge in 1795. 
In 1792 two wooden bridges were built, 
one over the Conodoguinet creek at Mr. 
John McDonald's and the other over the 
Yellow Breeches creek at New Cumber- 
land, the latter.in 1819 was replaced bv a 
stone structure that stood until 1889, when 
it was destroyed, with six other bridges,by 
the high waters known as the Johnstown 
flood. 

In 1812,the building of a stone bridge at 
Fleming's ford on the Conodoguinet creek 
was begun, but on account of many hin- 



29 

dranoes and delays, was not finished until 
1819. Nine years thereafter, it was found 
necessary to build a new bridge at this 
place, when a wooden structure was 
erected, that remains standing today. 
Only one more attempt (at Quigley's) was 
ever made to build a stone bridge over the 
Conodoguinet creek, and that proved an 
utter failure, on the part of two different 
contractois, and had to be abandoned. 
Three or four stone arch bridges have 
been successfully erected and maintained 
over the Yellow Breeches creek, and why 
our fore fathers, skilled in the arts of 
mechanics, sufficient to erect substantial 
and durable bridges of stone and wood, 
should not also have successfully bridged 
the Conodoguinet with stone arch bridges, 
is hard to conceive. 

The first iron bridge erected by the 
county was in the year 1867, over the 
Yellow Breeches Creek, at Givler's mill in 
Monroe township, constructed by the 
Mosely Iron Bridge Company. Within 
three years thereafter, five more of the 
same type were built on the Conodoguinet 
creek, and one on tbe Middle Spring, at 
a cost of more than $40,000. The Heck 
bridge, on the Conodoguinet creek, in the 
lower end of the county, was of this num- 
ber. Within three years after it had been 
opened to the puplic, one of its five spans 
broke down, carrying with it a four-horse 
team, fortunately without any serious in- 
jury to the horses or driver, but at a cost 
to the county of nearly $4,000 for repairs. 

Only two, the smallest of those seven 
bridges, remain standing today. 

In those days, iron bridge building was 
largely experimental, the material nsed of 
light weight, the construction poor and 
faulty, and when erected deficient in ca- 
pacity. And then, too, care was not al- 



30 

ways taken to secure a solid foundation 
and build thereon of large stone, a sub- 
stantial abutment, or pier, to an elevation 
greater than the highest water mark. 

We seem to be deficient, most in foun- 
dation building, and this does not alone 
apply to bridge building. 

Within the last one hundred and twenty 
five years, the period covered by this pa- 
per, there has been erected within the 
bounds of Cumberland county, one hun- 
dred bridges. 

Fifty-six of these were built over the 
Conodoguinet creek. Thirty-three over 
the Yellow Breeches creek. Five over 
the Big Spring. Three over Middle Spring, 
and the remainder over the Letort Spring 
and Brancn at Shippensburg. Sixty-nine 
of the one hundred built, are now stand- 
ing. Thirty five of them on the Conodo- 
guinet creek. Thirty of which are wood, 
and five are iron. Twenty-eight span the 
Yellow Breeches creek. Sixteen of which 
are owned and maintained, jointly, with 
York county. Of those twenty-eight 
bridges on the Yellow Breeches creek, 
three are built of stone, eleven of iron, 
and fourteen of wood. On the Middle 
Spring there are three joint bridges with 
Franklin county, one of iron, and two of 
wood. 

The Big Spring has three, one of iron, 
ana two stone arch bridges. 

COST OF CONSTRUCTION. 

Conodoguinet Creek, . . $195 794 

Yellow Breeches Creek, . 79 639 

Big Spring, 4 302 

Middle Spring, .... 3 169 

Other Bridges, .... 4 586 



Total, $287 490 






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